Petrol consumption down in Iran after rationing
Wednesday, 4 July 2007
TEHRAN, July 3 (AFP): The world's fourth biggest oil producer Iran has successfully reduced petrol consumption after implementing a rationing scheme over angry protests, press reports said yesterday.
"Petrol consumption has been down by six million litres per day and now stands at 72 million litres everyday," the hardline Kayhan daily said, quoting oil ministry figures.
It said consumption had hit a record low of 53.2 million litres Saturday.
Press reports said that traffic has been moving more smoothly as there are about 20 per cent fewer vehicles on the usually congested streets of Tehran.
On Tuesday night, the government suddenly announced the introduction of petrol rationing throughout Iran, limiting most private cars to a monthly quota of 100 litres.
The rationing is to continue for four months and might be extended to six months.
The announcement triggered nationwide protests, with angry demonstrators torching petrol stations and yelling slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government.
As a result of limited refining capacity, Iran has to resort to imports to meet 40 per cent of demand for petrol.
Ahmadinejad hopes to reduce petrol consumption to a maximum of 60 million litres a day and to have more vehicles switch to liquefied gas so that Iran is less dependent on imported petrol.
"Petrol consumption has been down by six million litres per day and now stands at 72 million litres everyday," the hardline Kayhan daily said, quoting oil ministry figures.
It said consumption had hit a record low of 53.2 million litres Saturday.
Press reports said that traffic has been moving more smoothly as there are about 20 per cent fewer vehicles on the usually congested streets of Tehran.
On Tuesday night, the government suddenly announced the introduction of petrol rationing throughout Iran, limiting most private cars to a monthly quota of 100 litres.
The rationing is to continue for four months and might be extended to six months.
The announcement triggered nationwide protests, with angry demonstrators torching petrol stations and yelling slogans against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his government.
As a result of limited refining capacity, Iran has to resort to imports to meet 40 per cent of demand for petrol.
Ahmadinejad hopes to reduce petrol consumption to a maximum of 60 million litres a day and to have more vehicles switch to liquefied gas so that Iran is less dependent on imported petrol.